Knott's Berry Farm

443:, featured single motorbike-themed vehicles racing side-by-side, each on one of four parallel tracks, launched together. One or two riders straddled each "Indian motorcycle" attraction vehicle. The tubular steel monorail track closely followed dips and bumps in "the road" and tilted to lean riders about the curves. Gasoline Alley, an electric steel-guide rail car ride below, was built together and intimately intertwined, which enhanced ride-to-ride interaction thrill value. Rider safety concerns of the high center of gravity coupled with the method of rider restraints caused it to be rethemed Wacky Soap Box Racers with vehicles themed to look like soap box racers, each seating two riders, strapped in low (nearly straddling the track), surrounded by the close-fitting car sides, and the dips and bumps of the track were straightened flat in 1980. Motorcycle Chase/Wacky Soap Box Racers was removed in 1996 for a dueling loop coaster 1530:" and "A Christmas Carol" for the 2022 season, and as well as a Halloween Haunt thrill show. The Calico Stage, a large open-air stage in Calico Square, hosts a variety of shows and acts, big and small, from "Home for the Holidays", a Knott's Merry Farm Christmas skit with singing, those of elementary school students, Gallagher, a local band, and the summer-spectacular All Wheels Extreme stunt show featuring youthful performers demonstrating aerial tricks with acrobatics, trampolines, and riding ramps with skates, scooters, skateboards, and freestyle bikes to popular music. The Calico Saloon recreates the revelry of music, singing and dancing, with Cameo Kate hosting a variety of acts. Jersey Lily, Judge Roy Bean's combination courthouse/saloon, offers certified comical "genuine illegal hitchin'" alongside pickles, candy, and sports/soft drinks. 2770: 2811: 1291:, the creator/concessionaire of the Mine Ride, Log Ride and other rides at Knott's, decided that this wasn't enough. He dressed up in a gorilla suit and started scaring guests on the Mine Ride. Halloween Haunt was an instant hit, and by the next year, the event sold out nightly. During this special ticketed event, the entire park (or major portions of it) re-themes itself into a "haunted house" style attraction in the form of mazes and "scare zones" in the evening. Over a thousand specially employed monsters are also scattered—often hidden out of view—throughout the park at this time. Some of the characters have become well-known, such as the Green Witch, which was portrayed by Charlene Parker from 1983 to 2017, the longest of any performer. Several attractions are decorated for the event including the 878: 3240: 305:. In June 1934, the Knotts began selling fried chicken dinners in a tea room on the property, later named "Mrs. Knott's Chicken Dinner Restaurant." The dinners soon became a major tourist draw, and the Knotts built several shops and other attractions to entertain visitors waiting for a seat in the restaurant. In 1940, Walter Knott began constructing a replica Ghost Town on the property, the beginning of the present-day theme park. Ghost Town was Walter Knott's tribute to the pioneers, which included his own grandparents who came to California in a covered wagon from Texas in 1868 (when his mother was about four years old). The idea of an amusement park picked up in the 1950s when Walter Knott opened a "summer-long county fair." 743: 428:. The Sky Jump boarded one or two standing riders anticipating the thrill of the drop into baskets beneath a faux parachute canopy. From the top, twelve arms supported the vertical cable tracks of wire rope which lifted the baskets. The Sky Cabin ringed the support pole with a single floor of seats that are enclosed behind windows. Its ring revolves slowly as it rises to the top and back offering a pleasantly changing vista. It is very sensitive to weather and passenger motion, such as walking, which is prohibited during the trip. During winds 25+ mph or rain it is closed. When built, the tower was the tallest structure in Orange County (a distinction briefly held by 2021: 317: 3722: 2244: 3252: 606: 309: 2871: 2959: 38: 3061: 2690: 1479: 2658: 1942: 357: 1471: 290: 2460: 29: 1642: 751: 1024: 1722: 6825: 3087: 1903: 590: 1672: 2505: 2726: 1350: 465: 2626: 2590: 2170: 1768: 1763: 2308: 2992: 1867: 1138: 2374: 2138: 6835: 2903: 2060: 2548: 598: 2200: 1553:

Calico Saloon was not named "Ghost Town" because it is supposedly located in Calico. Rather, it was named for the tradition of lining Gold-Rush-era buildings with red calico fabric. Also, the Ghost Town & Calico Railroad was named because "Ghost Town" and "Calico" are two separate places. Walter Knott always referred to the Old West section of Knott's Berry Farm as "Ghost Town", not "Calico."

405:

freely "hanging out" in the park that were, on occasion, causing problems and degrading the Knott's "family" image). The entrance price originally being set at $ 1 for adults and 25¢ for children. Previous to this, entry was free and the cost was based on purchasing a ticket for each ride, using the A-E ticketing system similar to that of Disneyland. The Calico Log Ride (the original name of the

2417: 1826: 2094: 2277: 3708: 1264: 2325: – one of Knott's major thrill rides – closed for an expansion of the Boardwalk. The boardwalk reopened a year later with two flat rides and a new family roller coaster taking the place of Perilous Plunge. The Boomerang roller coaster was repainted in green and yellow. Boomerang was removed in 2017 to make way for HangTime. 4839: 1990:

Victoria Cantina, games like Shoot If Yucan, and themed rides like La Revolución, Jaguar!, and MonteZOOMa: The Forbidden Fortress, along with the former attraction Tampico Tumbler, all contribute to the Mexican and Aztec theme of the area. In 2013 colorful string lights were added for the summer season.

3499:

Before the City of Buena Park was incorporated, Knott's Berry Farm's Security Department even provided police services to the nearby unincorporated area that would eventually become known as Buena Park, including writing traffic tickets. Then, in the early days of the incorporated City of Buena Park,

1282:

has drawn crowds since 1973. The idea for this event was presented at one of the regularly scheduled round table meetings for managers by Patricia Pawson. The actual event was created by Bill Hollingshead, Gary Salisbury, Martha Boyd and Gene Witham, along with other members of the Knott's Berry Farm

849:

1952: Schoolhouse brought in from Beloit, Kansas. About this time more buildings (designed by Paul von Klieben) are constructed on School Road, such as the Grist Mill, Barrel House, Box House and Boot Hill. Claude Bell's assistant, Ross Yost, sculpts statues on Boot Hill recreating the scene in the

3500:

Knott's Berry Farm Security provided vital mutual aid assistance to the Buena Park Police Department (formerly Buena Park Public Safety) during emergencies since Knott's Berry Farm's 34 sworn Special Deputies outnumbered, and were better equipped than the city's four-man Department of Public Safety.

1548:

Western Trails Museum, relocated between the candy store and the General Store to accommodate Calico River Rapids (formerly Bigfoot Rapids), still features historical western artifacts large and small, from a hand-powered horse-drawn fire engine to a miniature replica of a borax hauling "Twenty Mule

1321:

is an event that takes place on the first or second weekend of March every year when roller coaster enthusiasts can come before the park opens and stay after the park closes to ride the rides and eat at the Chicken Dinner Restaurant. It is intended to provide "solace" to visitors from other parts of

1307:

page, Cassandra was released from her contract by the park's new owners due to their wanting a more family-friendly appeal. She returned for one night in 2012 for the 40th anniversary of the event then again featured in her nightly show from 2014 to 2017. During October, Knott's Scary Farm generates

1181:

removed; Bob Weir (who was the Knott's woodcarver from 1986 until retiring in 2024) begins restoring the models of the California missions. The missions had been removed in various renovations in the 1980s and 1990s, and in some cases had to be rebuilt from scratch. New enclosures for the missions

3198:

Many of the original attractions are outside the gates of the current-day theme park along Grand Ave. at the California Marketplace, mostly things that would no longer be considered interesting to today's audience, or things that were merely decorative. Near the restrooms behind Berry Place are the

1989:

Fiesta Village was built in 1969 under the pretense of a Mexican theme. It was built to pay tribute to California's Spanish and Mexican heritage. It was the second area constructed after the completion of Ghost Town. Stores like Casa California, restaurants like Pancho's Tacos, La Papa Loca, and La

2336:

restaurant is located at Knott's Boardwalk, featuring over 5,900 square feet (550 m) of indoor dining space for more than 260 guests. Also located in The Boardwalk is the 2000-seat Walter Knott Theatre hosting seasonal offerings, notably the ice-skating show "Snoopy's Night Before Christmas",

1552:

A common misconception is that at Knott's the terms "Ghost Town" and "Calico" are interchangeable, but that is not the case. Walter Knott explained that he built Ghost Town as a composite to represent ghost towns throughout the West, rather than as a replica of any one particular ghost town. The

1185:

2014: Charlie Brown's Kite Flyer; Linus Launcher; Pig Pen's Mud Buggies; Grand Sierra Scenic Railroad, Lucy's Tugboat and Rocky Road Trucking Company rethemed as Grand Sierra Railroad, Rapid River Run and Rocky Mountain Trucking Company; Charlie Brown's Speedway, Joe Cool's GR8 SK8, Kingdom of the

409:) opened in 1969. Also during this period, an attempt to create a monorail system between Knott's and Disneyland was reportedly in the works for many years, however, project construction never began due to costs and legal issues obtaining needed property and gaining necessary right-of-way access. 839:

1951: Claude Bell initiates the Portraits in Pastel concession and runs it until 1986 (now operated by Kaman's Art Shoppes). Bell and his son build the Portraits in Pastel building (now used as the Geode Shop), and fireplace with relief of Mark Twain sculpted on it. The loft upstairs includes a

654:

flat ride called Pacific Scrambler, and Surfside Gliders. All three were constructed in the Boardwalk section of the park. An old bridge that connected the exit of Coast Rider and the Boardwalk became the entrance to Surfside Gliders and Pacific Scrambler. Following the 2013 season, Knott's Berry

373:

The park became a popular destination for conservative college students in the 1960s, especially as conservative organizations like the California Free Enterprise Association, the Libres Foundation, and the Americanism Educational League were based there. According to Assistant Professor Caroline

3495:

where the park's security officers were sworn special deputies vested with full police powers. The Security Department, however, did not answer to the county sheriff, but rather to the park's Chief of Security (who for many years was Steve Knott, the grandson of Walter Knott). Knott's Berry Farm

3454:

a person suspected of having a mental illness and determined "a danger to themselves or others". It also referenced the fact that guests experiencing the attraction had their arms strapped to a chair as part of the experience. The backlash was focused on Cedar Fair's use of painful experiences

404:

In the late 1960's a 10 ft. high brick wall with barbed wire embedded into the top was constructed around "Ghost Town" and for the first time, in 1968, an admission price was required to get into that section of the park (ostensibly to keep out the "hippies" and local long-haired youth from

352:

In 1956, twenty years after creating his museum, Marion Speer (at age 72) donated the carefully cataloged collection (30,000 items) to Knott's in return for Knott's housing it, displaying it and naming Speer as curator. Speer continued in that position until he retired in 1969 at the age of 84.

339:

in the West, conducted research, and designed most of the Ghost Town section of Knott's Berry Farm. He created concept art for most of the buildings that were built there. He also drew up floor plans, oversaw the construction of buildings, and even spent some time painting concrete to look like

2806:

has been the mascot of Knott's Berry Farm since 1983, and the characters can now be seen at some of Six Flags's parks. For guests who cannot ride the park's more aggressive and thrilling rides, Camp Snoopy contains a good number of rides for guests of all ages including infants, children, and

1234:

2021: Knott's Berry Farm reopens after a year-long closure on May 6 to season pass holders; Knott's Berry Farm's grand reopening and Knott's Bear-y Tales: Return to the Fair opens to the general public on May 21; Knott's Berry Farm's 100th anniversary celebration begins May 21 to September 6,

3222:

estate fireplace hearth, and what remains of the visible beehive. Some attractions still exist, but have been incorporated into backstage areas, such as the Rock Garden, now an employee smoking area. Other attractions have been removed, such as the historic volcano, and the cross-section of

1241:

2023: Sol Spin, La Revolucion, and Dragon Swing are all repainted to fit into the refreshed Fiesta Village; Casa California opens in place of the old arcade in Fiesta Village; Carousel was renamed Carrusel de California; Waveswinger renamed Los Voladores; Timberline Twister and Camp Bus

2257:

Riders accelerate from 0 to 55 mph (89 km/h) in 4.5 seconds. This coaster was awarded the American Coaster Enthusiasts Coaster Landmark Award on June 20, 2019. The coaster is the last Schwarzkopf Shuttle Loop left in the U.S. Formerly called Montezooma's Revenge (1978–2022).

3474:

Knott's Soak City is a water park. It opened on June 17, 2000, as Soak City U.S. It requires separate admission from Knott's Berry Farm. In addition to the water park across the street from the main theme park, Cedar Fair also formerly owned two other Knott's Soak City Parks, in

867:'s first concession at Knott's; Merry-Go-Round Auto Ride (later the Tijuana Taxi); Hunter's Paradise Shootin' Gallery; Model 'T' Children's Ride; Cable Cars; Evan Middleton's Model Train Shop; First Baptist Church in Downey moved to Knott's and became the Church of Reflections 3455:

suffered by those dealing with mental illness and to have it "transmogrified into spooky entertainment". In response, Cedar Fair removed "5150" from the name, and after continued opposition, permanently closed the attraction on September 28, 2016, six days after its debut. A

3267:

and gift shop, and the Church of Reflections which was moved outside the theme park in 2004 and held non-denominational Sunday services until 2010. A tunnel and pedestrian underpass beneath Beach Blvd. connects the main parking lot to the shops, restaurants and theme park.

1556:

Some parts of Ghost Town are forever lost to progress. The conversion of the Silver Dollar Saloon to a shooting gallery, Hunters Paradise shooting gallery to Panda Express and the original Berry Stand, moved several times with its last location now occupied by the

1166:; Park improvements – Replacing area theme music, removing boardwalks and pouring concrete replacements, rebuilding rotted wood structures, keeping open until park closing attractions, restaurants & shops which had previously closed early. More aggressive 2034:

One of the world's oldest working Dentzel Carousels, this 100-year-old ride still revolves to the strains of its antique Band Organ. Menagerie carousel's 48 hand-carved animals including lions, tigers, ostriches, camels, zebras, giraffes, pigs, cats and horses. A

364:

building at Knott's was either made of rammed-earth construction or concrete made to look like rammed-earth. This construction technique is fireproof and was used in the old mining town of Calico, California. This ca 1983 photo is courtesy of the Orange County

369:

The museum was once housed in a building (which has since been razed) at Knott's Berry Farm between Jeffries Barn (now known as the Wilderness Dance Hall) and the schoolhouse. The Western Trails Museum at Knott's is now just south of the saloon in Ghost Town.

3459:

was signed by more than 2,000 people hoping Cedar Fair would bring it back, with the petition's organizer stating that Cedar Fair should not be "forced to shut down an attraction based on the words of people who had not even experienced the attraction".

2520:

amusement ride. When the area opened in 1996, this was a ride called Whirlpool, it was housed inside a building that featured 'undersea' murals on the walls, musical soundtrack effects, and concert-style lighting effects. In 2000, it was replaced with a

382:

it also appealed to conservative Americans, young and old, because the idealized representation of a past devoid of social and racial tensions that it offered stood in sharp contrast with the political and social upheavals affecting California since the

2341:, another Cedar Fair park. It was renamed in 2020 from the Charles M. Schulz Theater to the Walter Knott Theater, as part of a refurbishment of the exterior for the park's 100th anniversary, which also included new LED signage to the theater's marquee. 2320:

Boardwalk Games include physical challenges such as a three-point challenge, baseball, and test your strength. Hawkers pitch a variety of traditional games as well, such as water racers, bucket toss, whack a mole, and ping pong toss. In September 2012,

1521:

The Ghost Town area has a few other notable attractions. The Bird Cage Theatre is an old-fashioned theater in Ghost Town. It only hosts two seasonal entertainments—during "Knott's Merry Farm", which includes two small productions: "Marley's Wings" and

674:

at the end of its operating day on March 13, 2020. Knott's Bear-y Tales and other planned changes to the park were postponed to 2021. In June 2020, Knott's Marketplace reopened with health guidelines in place. The following month, the park introduced

412:

When Cordelia Knott died on April 12, 1974, Walter turned his attention toward political causes. The Roaring Twenties rethemed Gypsy Camp in the 1970s with the addition of a nostalgic traditional amusement area, Wheeler Dealer Bumper Cars, and

1494:

and other real ghost towns in the Western United States. Walter Knott inherited his uncle's silver mill and land, then bought more of the actual ghost town in 1951 and developed it. In 1966, he donated that property to the corporate-municipal

1325:

A Christmas event known as "Knott's Merry Farm" also happens annually. Previous Merry Farm events have included manufactured snow, handcraft exhibits, and a visit with Santa Claus. This event was created by Gary Salisbury in the fall of 1985.

2854:

takes guest on a four-minute train ride through the reflection lake. The ride was made shorter with the construction of Silver Bullet. As part of the 30th Anniversary makeover, the train ride received a series of Peanuts vignettes (made by

632:. Perilous Plunge had the record of being the tallest and steepest water ride in the world until September 2012 when it was closed and removed. Also, in 2013, Knott's Berry Farm announced that one of the most popular rides at the park, the 340:

natural rock. His Old West paintings and murals adorned the walls of many structures in the park, and a number of them still do. His art was also used extensively in Knott's newspapers, menus, brochures, catalogs and other publications.

1966:

attraction. The 4-minute ride features two major drops, of which the final drop is 42 feet. The ride opened in 1969 and re-opened in 2013 after an extensive refurbishment. The ride features more than 40 audio animatronics developed by

3540:

In November 2013, Knott's Berry Farm began selling its "Berry Market" brand of preserves at the park. The Berry Market brand is all-natural. They are unable to use "Knott's" on the label since Smucker's owns the rights to the name.

1245:

2024: Snoopy's Tenderpaw Twister Coaster; Sally's Swing Along; Huff and Puff and High Sierra Ferris Wheel removed; Rocky Mountain Trucking Company and Grand Sierra Railroad are rethemed to Camp Snoopy's Off-Road Rally and Beagle

2833:

On November 22, 2013, Knott's Berry Farm announced major improvements in the area of Camp Snoopy. Camp Snoopy received a makeover for its 30th anniversary. In summer 2014, Knott's Berry Farm opened up new rides in Camp Snoopy.

2862:

Knott's has portrait artists, as well as face painters and caricature artists in two different locations in Camp Snoopy operated by Kaman's Art Shoppes. Portrait artists have a long history at Knott's, dating back to 1951.

3442:. The ten-minute-long attraction immersed guests inside of a chaotic hospital haunted by a supernatural central character named Katie and zombie-like patients. The initial controversy came from the attraction's name, with 3525:

system offered for an additional charge at Six Flags amusement parks. Visitors can purchase a wristband that allows them to bypass standard lines in favor of shorter ones at many of the parks' most popular attractions.

3503:

The Orange County Sheriff Department discontinued this arrangement in the late 1980s but Knott's still maintains its own private (albeit unsworn) security force, and its "Station-K" public safety radio designation.

1212:

2017: Sol Spin; new Boardwalk Barbecue restaurant; Added VRCADE; Boomerang closes; Montezooma's Revenge receives new color scheme.; Brought back Ghost Town Alive; Extended Boysenberry Festival; Soak City gets an

986:

1989: XK-1; Greased Lightning moved into an enclosed building and renamed Whirlwind. Corkscrew removed/refurbished and moved to Silverwood Theme Park in Idaho; Propeller Spin removed; Loop Trainer Flying Machine

1322:

the country where theme parks and roller coasters are seasonal, not year-round operations like the Southern California parks. Knott's Berry Farm also used to give attendees behind-the-scenes tours of the rides.

1226:

2020: Voyage to the Iron Reef closed on January 5, Knott's Bear-y Tales: Return to the Fair was set to open in the former spot of Voyage to the Iron Reef; the entire park was shut down on March 14 on grounds of

347:

to bring his Western Trails Museum collection to Knott's Berry Farm. Speer had been an enthusiastic supporter of Walter Knott's efforts to create Ghost Town, and had written articles for Knott's newspaper, the

1541:, which opened in 1988 and was refurbished with a new theme for the 2019 season. Nearby Pony Express is Rapids Trader, a small merchandise stand. It is also home to Mystery Lodge, a multimedia show based on an 1518:. Demonstrations of narrow-gauge railroading and farm equipment hobbyists accompany additional merchant stalls of cottage-craft fairs seasonally at discounted admission which is restricted to Ghost Town only. 2789:

is home to the park's family and children's rides, with many of the rides and attractions being built specifically for children and guests who cannot ride the park's more aggressive attractions. Its theme is

1314:

is a DVD produced by an independent company that traces the beginnings of Halloween Haunt and the story behind how it all got started back in 1973. Season of Screams also highlights recent Halloween Haunts.

1208:

in the California Marketplace; Mrs. Knott's Chicken Dinner Restaurant undergoes major renovations; GhostRider reopens from its major refurbishment on June 10, 2016; Temporarily removed Wipeout for HangTime

7748: 270:. The site continued its transformation into a modern amusement park over the next two decades, and an admission charge was added in 1968. In 1997, the park was sold to Cedar Fair for $ 300 million. 717:

Knott's Berry Farm returned to normal operation on May 6, 2021, including the debut of the delayed Knott's Bear-y Tales attraction originally planned for 2020. On July 1, 2024, Cedar Fair merged with

1703:. Riders board ore cars pulled by battery-powered locomotives and journey deep into a faux mining excavation site. The ride closed for refurbishment in January 2014 and reopened on June 14, 2014. 4813: 4391: 2867:, who created the concrete characters on the benches at Knott's, operated the portrait concession from 1951 to 1986. Bell also sculpted the minuteman statue on display at Independence Hall. 1012:

1996: The Boardwalk-themed area (a retheme of Roaring 20's); HammerHead; Greased Lightning renamed HeadAche; Whirlpool renamed Headspin; Wacky Soap Box Racers with Gasoline Alley removed.

526: 1220:; Sky Cabin reopened on February 10; Wipeout relocated and reopened in October; Bigfoot Rapids closes in September to undergo major renovation and new theming as Calico River Rapids. 968:

themed area built, forcing the removal of Knott's Lagoon and its attractions around a lake which had been built north of Independence Hall, so that a parking area could be relocated.

807:

1945: Bottle House and Music Hall (designed by Paul von Klieben) completed. The Music Hall displayed the Knotts' collection of antique music boxes and the painting "Night Watch" by

2814:

Claude Bell in his new Artist's Studio at Knott's Berry Farm, drawing Ed Strouse, Feb. 1954. This building is now the Rock & Geode Shop. Photo courtesy Orange County Archives.

6009: 266:

in California. By the 1940s, a restaurant, several shops, and other attractions had been constructed on the property to entertain a growing number of visitors, including a replica

7762: 574:, which had previously failed to be built near Washington, D.C. The Knotts refused to sell the park to Disney out of fear most of what Walter Knott had built would be eliminated. 8060: 7663: 1795:

train ride around the park. The ten-minute ride takes guests through the Wild Wilderness area, the Boardwalk area and Fiesta Village. All of the Passenger Cars came from the

7798: 7792: 4861: 4538: 3537:

continued to sell the jam and preserves made famous by the Knott family for several years; however, other products, such as the syrups, were phased out due to low demand.

836:

1951: Calico Saloon; Paul von Klieben painting "Saturday Night in Old Calico, 1888" (20 ft. x 16 ft.) is installed behind the bar (It now hangs in the Pitchur Gallery).

659:

and moved it to Worlds of Fun, where it reopened in 2014. For the 2014 season, the historical Calico Mine Ride underwent a major refurbishment completed in six months.

1336:

festival is held at Knott's that has food and drink prepared in a variety of ways with boysenberries. There are also special shows and music for the multi-week event.

8090: 4697: 7657: 4759: 3553: 1093:; Kingdom of the Dinosaurs closed; Church of Reflections relocated to outside of park; Radisson Resort Knott's Berry Farm renamed Knott's Berry Farm Resort Hotel. 7475: 4745: 7776: 494:

roller coaster replaced Corkscrew in 1990 with a lift shuttle train passing to and from through a cobra roll and a vertical loop for six inversions each trip.

2480:

that blends 3D projections and special effects, such as simulated wind and aromas, with physical sets. Debuted for the park's 100th anniversary and replacing

562:

On December 29, 1997, the Knott family sold the amusement park operations to Cedar Fair. Initially, the Knotts were given an opportunity to sell the park to

5876: 1744:

water ride. For the 2019 season, the attraction was refurbished to feature roughly 20 wildlife animatronics and water effects from Garner Holt Productions.

4976: 577:

In the late 1990s, Cedar Fair also acquired the Buena Park Hotel, located at the northwest corner of Grand and Crescent Avenues. It was then brought up to

417:. Then with the northward expansion of a 1920s-era Knott's Airfield-themed area featuring the Cloud 9 Dance Hall, Sky Cabin/Sky Jump and Motorcycle Chase 66: 7847: 424:

The Sky Tower with the illuminated "K" in logo script at the top was built to support two attractions, the Sky Jump, operated from 1976 to 1999, and the

5487: 454:

On December 3, 1981, Walter Knott died, survived by his children who would continue to operate Knott's as a family business for another fourteen years.

7669: 7124: 3492: 2743:

in which riders accelerate from 0 to 82 mph (132 km/h) in 2.3 seconds and climb 20 stories into the air. Xcelerator is currently the tallest

1303:) was introduced into the Halloween Event in 1982 and was prominently featured in many Halloween Haunt events until 2001. According to postings on her 5631:

Murray, Kathy (September 12, 1989). "Knott's Berry Farm pulling Corkscrew from its ride lineup // Prototype coaster is sold to Idaho amusement park".

5518: 4939: 581:

standards and branded Radisson Resort Hotel as a franchise. In 2004, the park renamed the Radisson Resort Hotel the Knott's Berry Farm Resort Hotel.

6666: 2810: 6540: 6385: 2290:

A thrilling topsy-turvy adventure over 6 stories high as they rotate in all directions on one of six spinning arms. It was built on the spot of

5706: 4493: 1533:

The park formerly featured a 5th area. Formerly known as Wild Water Wilderness, now part of Ghost Town, the area features two major rides: the

6156: 6120: 6257: 6221: 6084: 858: 475:

During the 1980s, Knott's met the competition in Southern California theme parks by theming a new land and building two massive attractions:

4265: 5652: 1043:; Woodstock's Airmail; XK-1 removed; Knott's Pacific Pavilion removed; Slingshot renamed Wave Swinger; Mexican Hat Dance renamed Hat Dance. 977:

1987: Kingdom of the Dinosaurs; Tampico Tumbler; Gran Slammer; Slingshot;; Bear-y Tales Funhouse; Happy Sombrero renamed Mexican Hat Dance.

4787: 7468: 7120: 7034: 6550: 6499: 6020: 5274: 3277: 2453: 2329: 1329:

Praise has been a Christian-themed celebration presented for many years as a mix-in special event of music and comedy on New Year's Eve.

850:

painting "Night Watch" by Charles Christian Nahl (The painting was later donated by the Knott family to the Orange County Museum of Art).

667: 609: 8040: 6714: 331:

was the key employee of Walter Knott in the creation of the Ghost Town at Knott's Berry Farm and the restoration of the ghost town of

4865: 5846: 3513: 1414: 3698: 8050: 7840: 6838: 6568: 5092: 4664: 4467: 1386: 854: 457:

In the 1980s, Knott's built the Calico Barn Dance featured Bobbi & Clyde as the house band. It was during the height of the "

2769: 1200:

2016: Ghost Town is renovated to celebrate its 75th birthday; RipTide officially closed and demolished due to technical issues;

974:

1986: Knott's Pacific Pavilion; Knott's Bear-y Tales removed; Tijuana Taxi removed; Fiesta Wheel removed; Mexican Whip removed.

971:

1984: Studio K debuts. The most successful teen dance facility in the nation. Opened with a Dick Clark Special, "Rock Rolls On".

857:; Bird Cage Theater; Concrete Bench figures depicting Calico Saloon performers Cecelia Peterson and Marilyn Schuler sculpted by 8045: 7946: 7461: 5597: 3557: 1367: 1046:

1999: Wipeout; Coasters restaurant; Charlie Brown Speedway; Sky Jump removed; HeadAche removed and renamed The Blue Thunder at

948:

1976: Motorcycle Chase; Sky Jump; Sky Cabin; Propeller Spin; Loop Trainer Flying Machine; Whirlpool; Gasoline Alley; Whirlwind.

356: 236: 7206: 6704: 6504: 6458: 5371: 5143: 5122: 4334: 4132: 4063: 3991: 3970: 3946: 2441:

and Riptide. The ride is America's first and only coaster of this type. The ride features a 96-degree drop and 5 inversions.

2285: 2163: 1896: 1558: 1086: 6048: 1393: 8095: 8075: 6659: 877: 2641:

ride with a height of 28 feet. Riders can pilot and move the gliders as it offers them a good view of the Boardwalk area.

6871: 6378: 5786: 3443: 722: 5970: 3239: 3186:

in Ghost Town, Indian Trails is a small area sandwiched between Camp Snoopy, Ghost Town, and Fiesta Village, showcasing

1655:

A family stagecoach ride that takes guests through the areas of Fiesta Village, Camp Snoopy and the Indian Trails area.

642:

On May 25, 2013, Knott's Berry Farm added three new family rides on the site of the former Perilous Plunge, including a

536:

was opened on June 17, 1995, to add another roller coaster to the mix of Fiesta Village alongside Montezooma's Revenge.

301:

and his family. Beginning in 1923, the Knott family sold berries, berry preserves, and pies from a roadside stand along

8085: 8030: 7833: 7784: 7700: 7030: 6978: 6772: 6726: 6443: 6192: 4127:

Jennings, Jay. Knott's Berry Farm: The Early Years, pp. 106–7, Arcadia Publishing, Charleston, South Carolina, 2009.

2237: 955: 388: 1400: 1238:

2022: Montezooma's Revenge closed for a major renovation, set to reopen in 2024 as MonteZOOMa: The Forbidden Fortress.

695:

for the Christmas holiday season which was canceled in December 2020 due to the regional stay at home order issued by

5816: 4719: 4365: 4168: 2782:(center) visits the construction site of "Camp Snoopy" with daughter Jill Schulz, Marion Knott and others, circa 1983 1496: 1433: 1130: 6323: 6293: 6268: 6232: 4977:"Coming In 2017: New Thrill Ride, Knott's Soak City Expansion, Ghost Town Alive!, and expanded Boysenberry Festival" 4195:"Another Side of the Sixties: Festive Practices on College Campuses and the Making of a Conservative Youth Movement" 3769: 3263:

a seasonal water park that requires separate admission, the picnic grounds rental areas, complimentary admission to

1119:

restaurant; Walter K Steamboat removed; New Perilous Plunge boats put into operation; Woodstock's Airmail relocated.

335:. In 1941, he joined Knott's as a staff artist, then served as art director there from 1943 to 1953. He traveled to 8080: 7681: 6805: 6509: 6405: 6300: 6264: 6228: 6199: 6163: 6127: 6091: 6055: 6016: 5977: 5948: 4194: 2603:

Supreme Scream features the highest drop in the park. A vertical ascending and descending drop ride. It features 3

2270: 2115:

type ride. Riders spin sombrero-themed cuencos as they rotate on counterrevolutionary turntables. Originally named

279: 4236: 918:; Fiesta Village themed area; Tijuana Taxi (re-themed from Auto Ride); Mexican Whip; Fiesta Wheel; Happy Sombrero. 8055: 7254: 7214: 6828: 6652: 6489: 3552:

Knott's Berry Farm can easily be accessed by various public transportation services. Service is available by the

1756: 1382: 921:

1970: Claude Bell sculpts the Minuteman statue displayed near Independence Hall (at Crescent St. and Beach Blvd.)

844: 8035: 5186: 4984: 4517: 8065: 7742: 7269: 6782: 6371: 3496:

maintained a completely private police force, vested with full police powers, and overseen by park management.

2838: 1686: 1371: 258:

Walter and Cordelia Knott first settled in Buena Park in 1920. The park began as a roadside berry stand run by

5319: 5058: 2822:'s indoor theme park, which itself was originally called Camp Snoopy. (In fact, Charles M. Schulz hailed from 1499:

which then made the town of Calico into a public historic park, for which it charged an entrance/parking fee.

7724: 7563: 7020: 6986: 6631: 6448: 5920: 5734: 5495: 5302: 2529:. The ride eventually closed down in 2012 and was replaced with three new rides, including Pacific Scrambler 2338: 1860: 1834: 1534: 525:, British Columbia. Mystery Lodge recreates a quiet summer night in Alert Bay, then guests "move inside" the 418: 5941: 5680: 3797: 754:

Knotts Berry Farm Denver & Rio Grand steam locomotive, added as Ghost Town & Calico Railroad in 1952

714:, awarding the park under the category "Industry Leader: Amusement/Theme Park" for its innovative approach. 8070: 7509: 7365: 6757: 3692: 1838: 1288: 1082:

2003: Tampico Tumbler removed; Gran Slammer removed; La Revolución; Joe Cool's Gr8 Sk8; HammerHead removed.

1047: 864: 742: 321: 5519:"Knott's Berry Farm Trip Report April 2014 – Calico Mine Train Refurbishment and Knott's Berry Bloom" 4947: 4587: 4561: 3826: 2077:. With the new reimagined renovation, the attraction was repainted to have the appearance of an alebrije. 7734: 7626: 7614: 7581: 7360: 7100: 6428: 5760: 5364:

Knott's Preserved: From Boyenberry to Theme Park, the History of Knott's Berry Farm, Anniversary Edition,

1819: 1036: 521:

of BRC Imagination Arts and created with the assistance of the Kwagulth Native reserve in the village of

308: 4613: 3873: 239:, while averaging approximately 4 million visitors per year. The park features over 40 rides, including 7939: 7814: 7706: 7533: 7130: 7049: 6689: 6558: 5633: 5348: 5324: 4156: 3727: 3284: 2917: 2438: 991: 683:

on weekends located in the Ghost Town section of the park. The event evolved over the season, becoming

491: 5157: 4914: 1097:

shortened and the Little Chapel by the Lake (aka Adobe Chapel) removed to accommodate construction of

924:

1971: John Wayne Theater (later the Good Time Theater, then the Charles M. Schulz Theater); Gypsy Camp

529:

and listen to the storyteller weave a tale of the importance of family from the smoke of the bonfire.

7911: 7427: 7422: 7249: 7110: 7075: 6694: 6433: 2562: 2410: 2391: 1217: 375: 302: 263: 5033: 4500: 7712: 7620: 7504: 7136: 7059: 6573: 6524: 6167: 6131: 5346:

MacDonald, Brady (March 20, 2022). "Boysenberry Festival kicks off with plenty of purple tongues".

4888: 3853:"Breaking New Ground The Early Years of Knott's Berry Farm – Orange County Historical Society" 3534: 3476: 3224: 2337:

with several different ice shows in the past, one of which, "Merry Christmas Snoopy!" relocated to

2029: 2020: 1935: 1884:

in which riders dip, turn and dive while harnessed in vehicles intended to simulate equestrianism.

1776: 1292: 915: 726: 633: 552: 544:

In the 1990s, after Walter and Cordelia died, their children decided to sell off their businesses.

406: 316: 59: 6095: 3544:

In January 2024, Smucker's discontinued the rest of the Knott's Berry Farm brand after low sales.

1407: 7569: 7391: 7115: 7080: 6914: 6864: 6709: 6699: 6598: 6578: 6355: 5238: 5006: 4016:

Stack, Ken. Stack's Liberty Ranch Collection, Volume Two, pp. 84–5, Stack's Liberty Ranch, 2020.

3480: 3447: 3389: 2740: 2485: 2481: 1920: 1917: 1911: 1360: 1190: 942: 663: 563: 414: 391: 2826:.) However, today the park is no longer affiliated with Knott's or Cedar Fair and is now called 7695: 7609: 7229: 7180: 7151: 7105: 6996: 6719: 6675: 6603: 6563: 5579: 5469: 5162: 4791: 4698:"Knott's Berry Farm postpones 100th-anniversary celebration until 2021, new ride ready to open" 3561: 3518: 3451: 3404: 3299: 2102: 1163: 1062: 1016: 938: 820:

1947: Concrete bench figures Handsome Brady and Whiskey Bill, the first of several sculpted by

808: 601:

Hangtime debuted as the park's latest major roller coaster since Silver Bullet on May 16, 2018.

444: 228: 4326: 4320: 1287:

Initially, fake corpses and other static figures were rented from a Hollywood prop house, but

7806: 7386: 7319: 7294: 7284: 7186: 7146: 7095: 6622: 6494: 5735:"Knott's closes Halloween attraction 'Fear VR' after complaints from mental health advocates" 5543: 4160: 4152: 4146: 3565: 2952: 2851: 2477: 2183:

Riders rotate 360 degrees while simultaneously swinging back and forth in a pendulum motion.

1845: 1278: 1268: 1258: 1094: 928: 779:

1934: Cordelia and her children serve the first chicken dinner to customers in their tearoom.

666:

as an interactive 4D dark ride as part of the park's 100th anniversary in 2020 with the name

605: 518: 7825: 7299: 4814:"Cedar Fair L.P. (FUN), Six Flags (SIX) Announce Merger of Equals is Successfully Completed" 4760:"Knott's Berry Farm cancels Taste of Merry Farm through Christmas due to stay-at-home order" 7974: 7953: 7675: 7314: 7289: 7279: 7224: 7171: 7166: 7156: 7069: 6810: 6788: 6767: 4518:"The J. M. Smucker Company Acquires Knott's Berry Farm® Food Brand From ConAgra Foods, Inc" 3688: 3569: 3491:

For much of the park's early history, Knott's Berry Farm had a unique arrangement with the

3469: 3260: 3251: 3228: 2972: 2848: 2827: 2431: 2388: 1881: 1792: 1696: 1527: 1112: 1058: 711: 384: 4780: 3446:

referring to Welfare and Institutions Code section 5150, the California law that allows a

2243: 8: 7988: 7651: 7598: 7401: 7334: 7161: 7084: 6747: 6479: 5854: 3187: 2870: 2823: 1800: 1782: 1715: 1538: 1515: 981: 696: 571: 468: 145:

America's 1st Theme Park, California's Best Theme Park, The Friendliest Place in the West

7141: 5618: 4415: 4352: 902:

1965: "Bud" Hurlbut creates replica of the Liberty Bell for display in Independence Hall

7960: 7925: 7604: 7538: 7352: 7309: 7219: 7024: 6857: 6742: 6588: 6324:"TEA/AECOM 2021 Theme Index and Museum Index: The Global Attractions Attendance Report" 5681:"Halloween meets virtual reality as Oculus powers 'FearVR: 5150' at Knott's Scary Farm" 5657: 3368: 2217:. Riders board individual swing sets before orbiting a central tower. Originally named 2074: 1491: 1300: 1194: 1147: 1141:

Coast Rider and Surfside Gliders opened in May 2013 as part of the boardwalk expansion.

1090: 484: 471:(now Calico River Rapids) was located in the Wild Water Wilderness section of the park. 332: 5084: 4746:"Knott's Taste of Fall-O-Ween 2020: General Review Featuring Special Guest Zombie Joe" 4668: 4471: 3852: 3259:

The east side of the property, divided by Beach Blvd., features the main parking lot,

870:

1956: Western Trails Museum; Models of California missions constructed by Leon de Volo

7515: 7342: 7090: 6453: 5711: 5367: 5191: 5139: 5136: